Site Leader

I am excited to be part of the amazing team at CONNECT Saanich Peninsula and work alongside the Brain Injury Team at Island Health, as we bring the incredible culture and transformative Life Redesign Model to the Peninsula. With a nursing background and lived experience with a family member who had a traumatic brain injury, it is a full-circle moment for me to be part of a team that supports people to reach for their life goals and dreams, as they redesign their lives after a brain injury or stroke. It is an honor to promote the culture of CONNECT and provide a meaningful place, where our team can share their incredible passion and grow in their careers.

Service Access and Transitions Leader

Dale supports individuals through their transitions at CONNECT, ensuring each move in and out is smooth, empowering and fosters independence. With a background in nursing and social work, she is passionate about advocacy, community well-being, and making a meaningful impact - both at work and through volunteer efforts.

Outside of CONNECT, Dale is a proud mom, aunt, and small business owner known for her handcrafted sugar cookies. She thrives in fast-paced environments, runs on humor and strong boundaries, and is a self-declared mediocre gardener - despite her best efforts. She brings heart, authenticity, and a genuine love for people and their stories to everything she does.

Nutrition Coach  

My name is Anna Schnute, and I am the Nutrition Coach (Registered Dietitian) at CONNECT Saanich. I work closely with the people I support, along with their family and Life Redesign Coaches, to support their personal nutrition goals. I believe that nutrition is not a one-size-fits-all formula—it's a deeply personal experience that touches every part of who we are: physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually. My coaching is rooted in a whole foods approach, focusing on natural, minimally processed foods that support long-term wellness and vitality. Through personalized guidance, I help people explore the connections between what they eat and how they feel, encouraging mindful choices that foster balance, resilience, and lasting health.

Home Resource Coach

My name is Marco Burtini, I am the Home Resource Coach with CONNECT. I work at our Saanich Peninsula location. I take care of the building and ensure the safety of both the staff as well as the people we support. My duties range from training and educating staff or our residents about proper safety protocols/procedures to repairing and maintaining the items used in the day to day activities. I also provide help with accommodating the people we support and there specific needs with there personal space or around the house. I feel that my main purpose is to allow everyone in our home to feel safe, comfortable, and that they are in a place they feel both heard and supported.

Service Resource Coach

As a Service Resource Coach at Connect, I am part of an inter-professional team, working to provide an inclusive learning experience in which the people we support are helped to achieve their highest level of functional ability. The focus of my role is to be a trusted person for all things related to our services. I bring a background in Psychology and a combination of operational and professional service experience in different sectors.

Active Living Coach (Kinesiologist)

I help the people we support get moving again through a dedicated focus on functional movement. My work focuses on regaining strength and mobility by bridging the gap between clinical rehab and real-world autonomy. By collaborating closely with our Physical and Independence Coaches, I ensure every physical goal translates directly into daily independence.

Mental Wellness Coach

As a Mental Wellness Coach, my primary goal is to build strong rapport with the individuals I serve. Developing trust allows me to better understand their experiences and learn from them in ways that inform my practice. Throughout my professional career, I have worked with a broad spectrum of people, from those in low-income housing settings to individuals in privatized mental health and addictions treatment. These experiences have shaped my understanding of the diverse challenges people face. I have training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and I employ an integrative approach that draws from these modalities to best support each individual’s unique needs.

Independence Coach

As an independence coach, I believe in the importance of participating in meaningful everyday activities--such as self-care, home management, work, hobbies, and life roles--to support people's health and well-being. I enjoy building genuine connections and walking alongside individuals, their families, and other fellow coaches to support their ability to live their fullest lives. Outside of work, my other valued occupations include cherishing time with family and friends, adventuring outdoors and exploring off-the-beaten paths both near and far.

Health & Wellness Coach

I am a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) who supports people in achieving their health and wellness goals. I’m passionate about advocacy and empowering individuals to take an active role in their care, including building confidence in self-advocacy and independence.

I value a holistic, integrated approach to health and enjoy collaborating with interdisciplinary professionals. My role includes providing health education, supporting informed decision-making, and helping people work toward their life goals as they rebuild and redesign their lives after a brain injury or stroke—all while creating a positive, supportive environment.

People Resource Coach

I’m an HR professional with over six years of experience in recruitment, training, and people-focused roles in corporate, educational and healthcare settings. I love connecting with others, creating positive employee experiences and helping teams grow and succeed. Currently a CPHR candidate and is actively pursuing my professional designation to continue building my skills. I’m always eager to learn, adapt to new technologies, and enjoy working in diverse, collaborative environments where people feel supported and heard. Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with friends and family, going on long walks, and relaxing with good music.

Independence Coach

Nils is pleased, in no particular order, to live near the ocean, to commute by bicycle, and to be part of the CONNECT team, who collaboratively empower people to attain their goals. As an independence coach, that involves equipping people to manage their self-care, enhance community access, and pursue the leisure and vocational activities that bring them satisfaction.

Play Coach

My role focuses on supporting people to connect with what brings them joy through recreation and leisure. That could mean getting outside in nature, picking up an instrument, connecting with the community or just trying something new. I keep things flexible and meet people where they’re at to make space for exploring what feels right in the moment. My role supports people in taking safe risks and building confidence through activities that feel rewarding and personal to them.

Health & Wellness Coach (LPN)

As part of a dedicated team of two nurses, I collaborate closely to support individuals living at Connect in achieving their health and wellness goals. We work to create a culture that integrates necessary health promotion, education and interventions with personal accountability, supported risk-taking, social capital, and meaningful community participation. Services are planned around the goals of each individual, this tailored holistic approach truly equips individuals recovering from brain injury or stroke with the skills, tools and confidence needed to build and live a life they are proud of.

Social Wellness Coach

As a Social Wellness Coach, Jaime is a creative social worker whose lifepath is rooted in service, guided by curiosity and fueled by a deep commitment to empowering individual and collective human potential.  With an adventurous spirit, a deep reverence for the human journey and a heart attuned to relational practice, she supports residents, families and co-workers at CONNECT Saanich Peninsula to uncover the strengths, insights and possibilities that exist within and around them to realize their goals. Her work is a blend of soulful reflection and practical support, meeting others with compassion and clarity to hold space for learning, healing, growth and transformation. These days, you can also find Jaime climbing mountain tops, paddling water ways, riding on the back of a motorcycle, befriending wildlife, watching her sons’ play soccer, tending to her garden and adding to her forever growing pile of books to read.

Admin Coach

Alan is new to connect as the admin coach for Saanich. Alans role includes tasks like financial management for our homes and the people we support, ordering supplies, handling electronic filing, event planning, managing schedules for life redesign coaches, and handling vacation and sick day requests, incident reporting and managing move in / out processes. Alan is a forward thinker that thinks outside of the box and always looks for a solution to any situation. He is also someone that steps into any role and fills gaps to ensure Connect runs smoothly and efficiently. When Alan is not at work with his extended family he enjoys photography, fishing and spending time with his daughter.